I realize that vBulletin "upgrades" have a tendency to overwrite previous admin settings, and even to introduce unanticipated limits. So in that spirit of customer appreciation, I have a couple observations.
I used to read every post on this board and visit several times a day to keep up. Now I rarely read more than 20% of the posts, and if I didn't see the names of the more frequent posters who I care about in the "New Posts" summary then I doubt I'd read even that much.
As some of you are keenly aware, I don't have much to say that I haven't already said in the last 17,000 posts over five years. When I do have something new (in my opinion) to say, then it's likely to be a bit more complex than my earlier writings and it's also likely to be a bit more heavily formatted with quotes, links, and other characters.
So when a new poster like TimWalsh300 raises some of the best issues I've read in months (http://www.early-retirement.org/for...o-i-really-need-to-take-47234.html#post873660), and when I spend a couple hours composing a post to address those issues, it's hugely annoying to have vBulletin whine at me that my post has too many characters.
[Really? Gee, Nords. Then if you have that much to say then maybe you should write a book. Hmmmm...]
I'd be more sympathetic if vBulletin's whining was effective-- but it's not. All I had to do was break one post into two consecutive posts. vBulletin's complaint didn't stop spam or optimize server storage or minimize database size or improve response speed or significantly change my behavior. All vBulletin's posting limit really managed to do was to piss me off.
I had the same posting-limit problem with my "Recommended reading list" post a couple months ago, and vBulletin's formatting may have broken some of those links. I had a huge problem in the social group with even more constrictive posting limits.
So I don't know whose idea it was to set posting limits, vBulletin's or some well-intentioned admin's, but it ain't workin' for the customers. And if vBulletin "upgrades" are doing this to your settings, then I'd be a bit annoyed with the open-source programmers who are taking such an inconsiderate design approach. Good programmers are supposed to avoid limits, not impose them.
I think it's reasonable to do away with posting limits. If one or two posters put up 20,000-character posts by copying magazine articles or by over-quoting other posters, then moderators can take care of the isolated issues when they pop up.
The unintended consequence of muzzling a potential H0cu$ is the risk of driving away the posters who can effectively address complex issues.
Besides, I don't think the new posters are coming here just to read the ads.
I used to read every post on this board and visit several times a day to keep up. Now I rarely read more than 20% of the posts, and if I didn't see the names of the more frequent posters who I care about in the "New Posts" summary then I doubt I'd read even that much.
As some of you are keenly aware, I don't have much to say that I haven't already said in the last 17,000 posts over five years. When I do have something new (in my opinion) to say, then it's likely to be a bit more complex than my earlier writings and it's also likely to be a bit more heavily formatted with quotes, links, and other characters.
So when a new poster like TimWalsh300 raises some of the best issues I've read in months (http://www.early-retirement.org/for...o-i-really-need-to-take-47234.html#post873660), and when I spend a couple hours composing a post to address those issues, it's hugely annoying to have vBulletin whine at me that my post has too many characters.
[Really? Gee, Nords. Then if you have that much to say then maybe you should write a book. Hmmmm...]
I'd be more sympathetic if vBulletin's whining was effective-- but it's not. All I had to do was break one post into two consecutive posts. vBulletin's complaint didn't stop spam or optimize server storage or minimize database size or improve response speed or significantly change my behavior. All vBulletin's posting limit really managed to do was to piss me off.
I had the same posting-limit problem with my "Recommended reading list" post a couple months ago, and vBulletin's formatting may have broken some of those links. I had a huge problem in the social group with even more constrictive posting limits.
So I don't know whose idea it was to set posting limits, vBulletin's or some well-intentioned admin's, but it ain't workin' for the customers. And if vBulletin "upgrades" are doing this to your settings, then I'd be a bit annoyed with the open-source programmers who are taking such an inconsiderate design approach. Good programmers are supposed to avoid limits, not impose them.
I think it's reasonable to do away with posting limits. If one or two posters put up 20,000-character posts by copying magazine articles or by over-quoting other posters, then moderators can take care of the isolated issues when they pop up.
The unintended consequence of muzzling a potential H0cu$ is the risk of driving away the posters who can effectively address complex issues.
Besides, I don't think the new posters are coming here just to read the ads.
